Category: Daily Monitor

Kawempe Muslim duo Ayub Khalifa and Agnes Nabukenya were named as the Finance Trust Bank Fufa Women Super League (FTBFWSL) coach and player of the month (November) on Tuesday.

Four of five league matches played in November were considered for the awards which were given out at the Bank’s headquarters on Lumumba Avenue.

“I read earlier from Pastor Gary Skinner that the harder you work, the luckier you get and I am sure you did the same,” FTB’s chief operations officer Sarah Gwokyalya, said at the ceremony.

“Our bank was started by women and it is natural that we support women. We are happy with the progress we have made over the past one year. We see better publicity for the league and I believe that is what will take us forward,” she added.

Khalifa, who guided Kawempe to four wins in those games, was a clear favourite for the award that comes with Shs500,000 over Kampala Queens’ Firew Asefa Hailegebreal who had three wins.

Kawempe beat She Maroons 2-0 and Amus College 2-1 at home. They also beat She Corporate 2-0 away in Njeru and Lady Doves 1-0 away in Masindi.

KQ beat Olila 5-0 and Uganda Martyrs 2-0 at home, plus St. Noa Girls 1-0 away in Wankulukuku then lost 2-0 away to She Maroons in Luzira.

“I have achieved this through the discipline of team and teamwork. I work with a group of coaches and players who make things possible,” Khalifa said as he collected his second monthly gong since the awards were introduced over a year ago.

Nabukenya wants big ones

Nabukenya was player of the match in the two home wins and scored twice in both games. She edged her teammate and goalkeeper Saidah Namwanje, who kept three clean sheets plus KQ’s Catherine Nagadya who scored both goals against Uganda Martyrs, the lone against St. Noa, and once against Olila.

“Every achievement is down to hard work, teamwork, and listening to my coaches,” Nabukenya said as she received her first ever monthly gong, which comes with Shs250,000, and also made clear her ambitions “to win the league as captain, then also be the top scorer and most valuable player again (as was the case when Kawempe won the 2023/24 FWSL).”

Meanwhile, Sanyuka TV’s Henry Gwase and NimSport’s Isa Nsereko were named the best journalists of the month.

Uganda and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have introduced a new set of special registration plates for humanitarian vehicles, marking a major step in efforts to streamline emergency response operations across the region. The announcement was made during a ceremony in Kampala on December 3, which also saw the signing of an agreement to establish a WFP Emergency Fleet Hub in the capital.

The launch brought together officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President and the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) Project, the entity behind the production of the new plates.

Foreign Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo said the initiative underscores Uganda’s longstanding role as a leader in humanitarian assistance. He noted that the country, which currently hosts Africa’s largest refugee population, continues to play an essential role in supporting regional stability.

‘By hosting the WFP Global Fleet Hub, we are extending our humanitarian leadership beyond our borders,’ Gen Odongo said. ‘This agreement shows that when we invest in logistics and remove unnecessary barriers, we save lives not only in Uganda but across the continent.’

The special plates, manufactured in Uganda, form part of a wider digital system that links hardware and software to improve vehicle tracking, enhance security and strengthen registration processes. Officials described the rollout as a landmark innovation in the country’s transport and regulatory infrastructure.

Works and Transport Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala said the new licence plates reinforce Uganda’s growing influence as a transport and logistics centre for East and Central Africa.

‘Our position in the region, supported by solid transport networks and progressive policies, makes Kampala the natural home for this continental logistics hub,’ Gen Katumba said. ‘These distinctive UN/WFP plates are not just about administration-they represent a shared commitment to ensuring critical supplies reach disaster zones without delay.’

Under the agreement, Uganda and WFP will collaborate on three key objectives, that is, deployment of distinctive UN/WFP plates that allow humanitarian vehicles to move freely across African borders without lengthy de-registration or re-registration procedures; scrapping of regulatory bottlenecks that have historically slowed the movement of relief convoys and trengthening regional protocols to cut transit times and operational costs while complementing commercial transport capacity.

WFP Uganda Country Director Marcus Prior said the fleet hub will dramatically increase the organisation’s capacity to respond to emergencies in multiple countries from a central location.

‘When conflict displaces communities in the Great Lakes region, Kampala will become the launch point for rapid, coordinated response,’ he said. ‘The plates we received today are more than identifiers-they are tools that enable life-saving action.’

ITMS Project Manager Damir Makhmutov, whose team supplied the plate technology, praised Uganda’s investment in smarter transport solutions, saying the initiative positions the country as a continental leader in digital logistics.

In 2024, WFP Uganda moved more than 173,000 metric tons of food assistance to over 545 distribution points within the country, supporting more than two million people. An additional 43,000 metric tons of relief items were delivered to neighbouring countries including Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The new fleet hub is expected to increase this reach significantly.

WFP remains the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, providing emergency food assistance while supporting communities recovering from conflict, disasters and climate-related shocks.

TotalEnergies has reached an agreement to acquire a 50 percent stake in Energetický a prumyslový Holding (EPH), a leading Western European multi-utility company.

The acquisition, valued at an enterprise value of pound 10.6b, will see TotalEnergies and EPH form a new 50/50 joint venture to manage a portfolio of flexible power-generation assets, including gas, biomass, and batteries, across Italy, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and France. The move combines TotalEnergies’ renewable-energy capacity with EPH’s flexible generation assets, strengthening TotalEnergies’ position in the Western European electricity market.

Impact Uganda’s oil and gas

TotalEnergies remains a key player in Uganda’s emerging oil and gas sector through its upstream affiliate, TotalEnergies EP, and is the lead operator of the Tilenga Project on the shores of Lake Albert.

The Tilenga Project involves developing six oil fields and drilling more than 400 wells in the Albertine Graben. It is expected to produce 190,000 barrels of oil per day at peak, and is about 60 percent complete.

TotalEnergies is also the majority shareholder and operator of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the 1,443-kilometre heated underground pipeline designed to transport Uganda’s crude oil from Kabaale to the Tanzanian port of Tanga for export.

Economic analysts say the European acquisition is unlikely to affect TotalEnergies’ oil and gas operations in Uganda, where the country is targeting first commercial oil by the end of 2026.

‘Uganda will not directly benefit from this specific acquisition because it involves power-generation assets in Europe, not Africa,’ said Dr Fred Muhumuza, a researcher and economist.

‘However, the acquisition is part of TotalEnergies’ broader strategy to invest in renewable energy. Indirectly, Uganda could benefit because TotalEnergies already has interests in renewable-energy development here,’ he said, adding the company’s rebranding reflects its commitment to environmental sustainability.

Energy sector expert James Muhindo also said the deal carries no serious significance for TotalEnergies’ interests in Uganda. ‘This is a strategic move to position the company for a future where fossil fuels may no longer dominate global energy. TotalEnergies knows oil will not be here forever. At some point, renewables may become the primary interest. That is why Uganda must diversify; we cannot afford to put all our eggs in one basket.’

Separately, TotalEnergies has consolidated all its operations in Uganda, creating a modern integrated headquarters named T-Hive, located at the RR Pearl building in Kampala.

Families exhausted by economic hardship during lockdown could no longer prioritise tuition, leading many students to pause or abandon their studies entirely.

The pandemic did not merely delay academic calendars; it scattered thousands of learners into new realities that made returning to university nearly impossible.

The shrinking graduation numbers now reflect a national education recovery still in distress. Every student missing from this year’s list represents not just a personal academic setback but a loss to the country’s future workforce. Uganda risks long-term shortages in critical skill areas like teachers, technicians, engineers, social workers, and specialists because the cohorts affected by the pandemic are exactly the ones who should be entering the job market now.

The reduced graduation duration at Kyambogo is, therefore, not merely an administrative adjustment but a subtle admission of how deeply Covid-19 altered the higher-education pipeline.

Compounding this challenge is the absence of a nationwide tracing mechanism to follow up on the learners who dropped out during the lockdown. Their whereabouts remain largely undocumented. Civil society organisations estimate that many are now in low-wage jobs, early marriages, or informal roles that lock them out of formal education permanently.

Without deliberate interventions such as flexible re-entry programmes, support for young mothers, financial recovery schemes, and community-based reintegration models, the country risks allowing an entire generation to slip away unnoticed.

As Kyambogo University prepares to graduate its noticeably smaller cohort in a record two days, the celebration carries an undertone of loss. Behind the gowns, speeches, and jubilation lies the silent shadow of students who should have been there but are not.

This year’s brief ceremony stands as a reminder that Covid-19’s impact on education did not end when schools reopened; it continues to shape futures and shrink opportunities.

The two-day graduation is not only a historical first, it is a quiet alarm signalling the need to rebuild not just the education system, but also the disrupted lives it once held.

‘A two-day graduation is not efficiency, it is absence.’

Farmers across the Greater Kibaale region are counting heavy losses as bean prices continue to fall sharply. Last season, a kilogramme of beans fetched between Shs1,800 and Shs3,000.

This season, prices have sunk to between Shs500 and Shs1,500. The drop in prices has been blamed on the oversupply of beans. Farmers say middlemen are taking advantage of their desperation by buying cheaply during harvest and later reselling at higher prices when planting season begins.

Mr Peter Natugonza, a resident of Kijungu Village in Kagadi District, says he invested Shs1.2m in labour, fertiliser and seeds for his five-acre garden but harvested far less than expected.

‘After deducting all the expenses, the money I had was not enough to sustain the business for the next season. As farmers, we need better prices because we invest a lot but earn very little. If things continue like this, many of us will abandon bean cultivation altogether,’ he says.

He adds that farmers have complained about price fluctuations for years but there has been no meaningful government intervention. Mr Simon Mugand, a farmer, says he expected more than Shs1.5m from his 2.5-acre farm but earned only Shs980,000 after harvesting eight sacks instead of the expected 16.

‘I had to pay labour, support my family, and clear hospital bills worth Shs750,000. It is now extremely difficult to plan for the next season,’ he says.

In Kibaale District, Ms Kezia Asiimire, another farmer, says many of her colleagues have left their beans unharvested because the prices are simply too low. Continuous rains have now caused some of the unpicked beans to rot or germinate again.

‘I came to this area and hired land with the hope that beans would bring good money. But during the harvest, I was shocked to find that a kilogram of beans was only Shs500, and that was after lengthy negotiations with the buyer. I have five bags of beans stored in my house, and more are still in the garden. The rains are destroying them, and they have even started germinating again,’ she says.

Mr Moses Kabanda, a farmer who invested more than Shs1.4m in renting land and managing his three-acre farm, said he expected 15 sacks but harvested only nine.

‘The continued decline in prices is discouraging us farmers. There is a need to improve market systems and establish fair, regulated prices that protect farmers,’ he says.

Mr Francis Kahwa says he was supposed to repay a Shs2m loan but failed after the prices dropped far below his expected income of Shs5.5m.

‘After trying to cover the loan, I was left with nothing for capital,’ he says. ‘I could not even afford transport and storage fees, which forced me to sell immediately after harvest despite the low prices.’

Kibaale District principal agricultural officer Hassan Matovu says the shift from maize to beans contributed to this season’s oversupply.

‘Last season, farmers faced losses due to falling maize prices, prompting many to switch to beans. This resulted in overproduction and the price decline we are seeing now,’ he says.

He adds that Uganda previously exported much of its food to neighbouring countries, but regional insecurity and changing economic conditions have reduced cross-border trade.

‘Insecurity in some of our neighbouring countries has limited international trade, affecting our export potential. Additionally, countries like South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have steadily improved their own agricultural sectors, reducing their dependency on Ugandan produce,’ he says.

He, however, applauded farmers for maintaining good production standards and advised them to form cooperatives to reduce storage costs, strengthen bargaining power and build more stable markets.

Farmers are urging the government to act, saying regular inspections, clear pricing guidelines and strict regulation of middlemen are needed to restore confidence in the agricultural sector. Agriculture remains a major pillar of Uganda’s economy. According to recent data for FY2023/2024 and preliminary figures for FY2024/2025, the sector contributes between 24 percent and 26.2 percent of the national GDP and remains the main source of livelihood for millions of Ugandans.

As Uganda enters another decisive electoral period, the conduct of security forces has once again become central to public debate. Elections are a constitutional moment when citizens freely express their will and evaluate who is best suited to lead them.

Yet this process is weakened when those mandated to ensure safety instead intimidate the very people they are supposed to protect. Excessive force, teargas, harassment, and undue interference do not strengthen national security; they erode public trust and undermine the legitimacy of our institutions.

A large portion of those participating in political activities today are young people. With Uganda’s youth making up the majority of the population, their voices are essential to shaping the country’s future. Many face unemployment, economic strain, and unfulfilled promises.

They possess limited material wealth and often feel corruption has taken away opportunities that should have been theirs. For them, political engagement is not merely a choice; it is an avenue for reclaiming hope.

Using intimidation against such a population does not produce order; it deepens frustration and widens the emotional distance between citizens and the State.

Throughout the campaign trail, National Unity Platform (NUP) party presidential flagbearer Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has emphasized peaceful participation. His repeated message has been clear: supporters must view security officers as brothers and sisters, fellow citizens performing their duties.

His public appeals have consistently urged restraint, calmness, and non-violence even when provoked. This commitment to peace has been demonstrated on the ground.

In Masaka, Arua, Jinja, and several other areas, large crowds turned up to listen to his message of change, yet the gatherings remained orderly. There were no widespread reports of theft, disturbances, or violence. Attendees came for one purpose: to hear ideas, weigh alternatives, and make informed decisions about whom to entrust with the country’s future.

These peaceful turnouts challenge the narrative that large political crowds inevitably cause disorder. When citizens gather to listen, not to fight, it reinforces the notion that the population is not the problem; misconduct and unnecessary force often are.

The peaceful conduct of thousands across the country shows that Ugandans are capable of participating responsibly when they are allowed to do so without intimidation.

Yet occurrences such as the killing of Meshach Okello in Iganga cast a heavy shadow over the political atmosphere. Such actions must be condemned unequivocally. Every unnecessary loss of life weakens confidence in the institutions that are meant to serve and protect.

The responsible officer should be subjected to full legal accountability. Upholding justice is crucial not only for the victim’s community but also for restoring nationwide trust in law enforcement.

People in authority should know that communities under pressure become more aware, more determined, and more observant. In today’s digital age, this vigilance is amplified. Almost every public action is recorded, photographed, or shared in real time. One officer may fail to notice hundreds of people watching, but hundreds can clearly see and document what one officer does.

This is why discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights are essential. The digital era makes accountability impossible to avoid.

One historical truth remains constant: sustainable stability cannot be achieved through intimidation. No government force has ever created long-term peace by suppressing a united population.

True peace is built when citizens trust that their rights will be upheld, regardless of their political views or social status. Security agencies must, therefore, demonstrate maturity, restraint, and fairness qualities that strengthen both the election process and the nation.

As Uganda prepares to choose its next leaders, intimidation must stop. Citizens must be allowed to participate freely, peacefully, and confidently. Justice for victims, respect for human dignity, and accountability for wrongdoing are not optional; they are prerequisites for a credible election. The country is watching, and so is the world.

Every action matters, and those in security forces/uniform have a unique opportunity to guide Uganda toward an election defined not by fear, but by fairness.

Parliament this week passed yet another supplementary budget that was brazen in its breadth and shocking in its size. Some of the line items are understandable and even reasonable, like the money allocated to fill the funding gap left by the withdrawal of American funding, especially to the health sector.

However, as Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda noted in a succinct yet sagacious minority report, most of the allocations do not pass the smell test of being “unavoidable and unforeseeable” or the legal and constitutional procedural bars.

Apart from noting that only 21 of the 59 Members of Parliament on the Budget Committee appended their signatures to the report circulating, your columnist has very little value to add and recommends a reading of the report itself, and Honourable Nganda’s valiant yet ultimately futile defence of the public interest.

Instead of wondering why the Electoral Commission, which had only one job to do and five years to do it in, must ask for emergency money to buy a biometric voter verification system and print ballot papers as unforeseen and unavoidable developments, let us consider the more interesting Tale of the Unsold T-shirts.

The story revolves around Fine Spinners Uganda Limited, purveyors of the finest apparel, including some by royal appointment, and who are not strangers to taxpayer bailouts.

We have no reporters in Parliament, so let’s quote from the report directly: “Fine Spinners manufactures T-shirts mainly for the export market, including the United States of America (USA). However, following the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, Fine Spinners Uganda Limited lost the huge USA market. By that time, Fine Spinners had already invested heavily in [the] manufacturing of 540,000 T-shirts for export. They therefore approached [the] Government and requested support to sell the T-shirts on the local market through Uganda Tailors Association (UTA). UTA will pay back the Government for the T-shirts over a period of 18 – 24 months.”

Hmmm.

Uganda’s removal from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) was first announced in October 2023 and became effective on January 1, 2024. If the said T-shirts were manufactured before or around October 2023, the smart thing would have been to export them quickly before the barricades came down.

If they were manufactured after January 1, 2024, with the market already closed, then that would qualify as the business equivalent of voluntary assumption of risk. One might wonder why the T-shirts are not sold to other markets or even sold directly to the local market by the manufacturer, in the same way that other producers find alternative markets for their products.

Adding a fine spin to this yarn is the revelation, Dear Reader, that Uganda’s tailors have an association. I checked and the thing doth existeth, as a non-government organisation. Cynics will wonder if any milestones are met in the association and on time, or whether each action point is met by excuses and delays.

Optimists, on the other hand, will finally heave a sigh of relief with the realisation that there is an entity to which they can now report their grievances and seek compensation for missing dresses and unfinished trousers.

What is clear to anyone who has worked with a Ugandan tailor or so much as brushed past them on a dusty urban street, feet swaying on the pedal, heads bobbing as hands deftly swing from bobbin to cloth, is that there won’t be any money coming back into the public coffers.

If a large-scale clothes maker is not able to sell half a million T-shirts and has to offload them at taxpayer expense, how are these streetside tailors expected to move them on, collect the money, pocket their margin and send back the rest? We are talking about folks who seldom remember whether their customers brought a jacket or a bedsheet for mending! It is all patched up.

We are not given any details about the style of the T-shirts and if they are still fashionable. Depending on the colour, they might have had a better chance of being picked up by a political party in this election season (insert eyebrow raised emoji). What we can agree on, for free, is that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for any tailors to return any of those T-shirts or money. If the supplementary budget, as a whole, reads like a tragedy, this anecdote is a fine example of spinning a yarn. I’ll eat my T-shirt if we get any of it back.

Brig Gen Richard Tukachungurwa has been appointed chairman of the General Court Martial (GCM), according to a State House communication dated November 25, He succeeds Brig Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe, whose term ended earlier this year.

President Museveni made the appointment under Sections 192, 193, and 195 of the UPDF Act, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

The decision ushers in a full reshuffle of the General Court Martial and introduces leadership changes across several Division Court Martials.

Tukachungurwa previously served as Judge Advocate of the GCM, where he guided the court on points of law. His appointment comes at a time of shifting legal boundaries for military courts.

On January 31, the Supreme Court ruled that tribunals such as the GCM lacked constitutional authority to try civilians.

In response, Parliament passed the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (Amendment) Act, 2025, which restored limited military jurisdiction over civilians under defined ‘exceptional circumstances.’

Profiles of key appointees

Col Raphael Mugisha

Col Mugisha joined the military justice system in 1995 as a prosecutor in the Unit Disciplinary Committee. Between 2012 and 2014, he served as Judge Advocate of the Army General Court Martial. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Makerere University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Col Fredrick Kangwamu

Col Kangwamu joined the army in 2006 and was commissioned as a cadet officer in 2007. He is an enrolled advocate of the High Court of Uganda, having graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University in 2003.

He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in 2005. Before joining the army, Kangwamu worked with Muyanja and Associates, Lugazi Sugar Company Limited, and the Electoral Commission, where he served in Kaberamaido as Assistant Registrar in charge of the Complaints Desk.

Within the army, he has held several legal roles, including serving as a legal officer in the procurement department, staff officer in the Directorate of Prosecution, and Lead Prosecutor in the General Court Martial.

He currently works with the Military Land Board as a legal officer and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Law at Victoria University.

Maj Denis Chemtai

Maj Chemtai was born in 1980 in Kapchorwa to Margaret Bushendich and the late Nathan Bushendich. He attended Kapchorwa Demonstration School for his primary education, Manjasi High School for O-Level, and Nabumali High School for A-Level, completing in 2000.

He joined the army in 2003 and after earning a law degree from Nkumba University. Between 2013 and 2014, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre. He is an enrolled advocate of the High Court of Uganda.

Other members

The newly appointed members of the GCM also include Col Simon Tusah Wankandya, Col Asha Patra, Lt Col Mohammedie Nasser Igambi, Maj Samuel Moses Amodoi, Maj Emmanuel Arihaihi, and Maj Abubakar Nyombi.

In parallel, new leaders have been appointed to Division Court Martials. Lt Col David Drani Epalu will chair the Fourth Division Court Martial, while Lt Col Yaqoub Hassan Mulyanti will chair the Special Forces Group Court Martial.

These appointments take immediate effect and are presented as part of efforts to reinforce discipline, improve efficiency, and ensure continuity within the UPDF’s justice system.

Who will face the reconstituted Court Martial?

The newly appointed General Court Martial leadership is expected to be sworn in soon before officially resuming trials.

By press time last evening, it was unclear when proceedings would begin, but sources indicated the process was in its final stages.

Who will be tried?

Under the UPDF (Amendment) Act, 2025, civilians can be tried by military courts only under ‘exceptional circumstances’, which include: illegal possession of military equipment, uniforms, or ammunition, accompanying soldiers on missions, and aiding soldiers in committing serious crimes.

Over 300 suspects in limbo

As of September, security sources told this publication that more than 300 suspects, mostly UPDF soldiers, were being held in various military detention facilities without trial.

Their cases could not proceed after the Supreme Court declared the operations of military courts illegal earlier this year.

The detainees are distributed across several military barracks, including: Makindye Military Police Barracks (Kampala), Kakiri Barracks (Wakiso), Makenke Barracks (Western Uganda), Gulu and Moroto Barracks (Northern Uganda)

Most suspects are facing serious charges such as aggravated robbery, murder, corruption, and treason.

In September, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesperson, confirmed that all suspects arrested after the court’s suspension remained in custody.

‘The suspects. will wait until its reconstitution,’ he said, adding that the army leadership has been working to restore the military justice system following the Supreme Court decision.

Every small disagreement between my wife and I, somehow ends up in her pastor’s office. If I delay coming home, forget to wash a cup, or even raise my voice slightly, she runs to him for ‘spiritual guidance.’ The pastor then calls me for ‘counselling’ sessions that feel more like interrogations. I respect faith, but this is making our marriage feel like a church project. I feel constantly scrutinised, and she refuses to discuss issues at home without her pastor’s input. I am starting to dread Sundays. How can I help her understand that our marriage needs privacy without coming across as unkind? Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

This situation is not only frustrating but also exhausting, and it is understandable to feel the way you do. You are in a challenging position, trying to find a balance between respecting her faith and establishing healthy boundaries in your relationship. It is reasonable to seek this balance, but you may not currently be on the same page.

Here are some ways to address the issue, focusing primarily on clear communication and setting healthy boundaries:

She may genuinely seek guidance from the pastor because it could be her only way to resolve issues. She might feel safer talking to the pastor than to you, or she might be looking for validation. This behaviour may also stem from a lack of proper conflict resolution tools. This is just a hypothesis of what could be driving her actions.

Set aside time for a non-confrontational discussion during a calm meal, tea, or a quiet evening, ideally not after an argument. Use ‘I’ and ‘we’ statements to express how you feel. For example, you might say, ‘I feel like our private disagreements are often shared with an outside party. This makes me feel as though I cannot be open and honest with you at home because I am afraid of being judged by someone else.’

Avoid interrogating her, as that is not helpful in this case. Instead, if the pastor calls to discuss a small issue, you can respectfully say, ‘Pastor, I respect your work, but this is a private marital matter that my wife and I are learning to resolve ourselves. We will contact you if we feel we need joint, formal counselling.’ This way, you politely yet assertively convey that it is uncomfortable for you to feel that every disagreement is reported to him.

Designate a specific time and method for addressing issues together. For instance, you could say, ‘If we argue, let us agree to cool down, and then we will sit down to discuss it for 30 minutes at a designated time tonight.’

Suggest joint counselling by stating that if a disagreement is not resolved within 48 hours, you both agree to seek professional help. This could involve her pastor, but only if you attend the session together as a unified front, rather than one person being summoned like a defendant.

It may also help to gently explain that private conflict resolution can strengthen trust and intimacy in your marriage. Emphasise that seeking help together, when needed, can make both of you feel heard and supported, rather than creating a sense of judgment or imbalance.

This approach shows that you are not rejecting her faith or spiritual guidance, but rather prioritising the health of your relationship.

Finally, reassure her that your goal is unity, not control. You might say, ‘I value your faith and respect your guidance, but I hope we can also build our own ways of resolving conflicts that make both of us feel safe and respected.’ Framing the conversation in terms of mutual care and shared responsibility can make her more receptive to establishing healthy boundaries without feeling that her spiritual life is being dismissed.

Readers Advice

Donate her to him

Paul Kalinimi. Be practical. Just have a kind heart and ‘donate’ that woman to the pastor as your tithe. Believe me, letting go will save you unnecessary stress. Being a man is already a full-time job; do not complicate it further.

Take a firm approach

Mary Lamunu. The simplest way to handle this is to take a firm approach. Using a man’s voice, issue a stern warning. Make it clear that your marriage is not open for outside interference. A strong, confident message works better than endless explanations. Stand your ground and protect your home.

Do not go to that church

Joshua Kirungi. Honestly, the easiest way is to stop attending that church entirely. Without your presence, things may naturally regulate themselves. When a marriage becomes entangled in constant outside involvement, distance is often the best solution. Give yourselves space, and the pastor’s influence will gradually diminish without confrontation.

Quit the marriage

Obedi Bwambale. Quit the marriage before it falls apart completely because interference from outsiders, especially pastors, can make things irreparable. Sometimes, letting go preemptively avoids greater heartbreak and complications. Protect your dignity and sanity by making tough but necessary decisions early.

Be the man of the home

Nyakojo Donavan Alecs. Take a bold approach like I did. Tell her firmly to go and get married to the pastor if that is her choice. Deliver your words decisively, without hesitation. Showing that you mean it may shock her and the pastor into understanding the seriousness of your stance.

Boundaries matter

Bingham Kendra. I no longer participate in church systems, but when I did, the pastor often reminded us: ‘Your husband leads your home. I lead this church.’ Stop taking every minor dispute in your marriage to the pastor. A man should guide his household, and outside interference is unnecessary.

Something is fishy

Bartholomew Diaz Nsubuga. Ask yourself one critical question: is there an affair going on between your wife and the pastor? Sometimes, constant interference comes from personal interest. Be honest with yourself and assess the situation clearly.

Overcome with humour

Winnie Nalukenge. Sometimes humour is the best reaction to ridiculous situations. Do not let the absurdity frustrate you unnecessarily. Laugh, detach emotionally, and focus on your own life. People meddling in your marriage are only as powerful as you allow them to be. Keep your sense of humour intact.

The Victoria Pearls closed their ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy campaign in sixth place after a spirited but ultimately insufficient display in their final match against Netherlands at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on November 30.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Uganda’s innings never settled into a full stride. The early loss of opener Esther Iloku and captain Janet Mbabazi had the Pearls wobbling at 26 for 2 after the Powerplay. It was another familiar rebuilding job, one they have been tasked with too often during this campaign.

But this time, the scaffolding held longer than expected.

Proscovia Alako and all-rounder Stephanie Nampiina stitched together Uganda’s most purposeful passage of play, combining caution with bursts of aggression. Alako’s unbeaten 34 – including a stunning 19-run final over – injected late belief into the innings, while Nampiina’s steady 21 gave the scoreboard the weight it needed to stay competitive.

Coach Muhumuza, however, felt the side came up ’30 runs short’ on a wicket that improved as the innings progressed.

Guard down

‘We gifted them early wickets,’ he reflected. ‘At this level you must not let your guard down. Tight, disciplined batting would have taken us to about 140, which was the winning score today.’

Netherlands’ chase was ruthless and well-measured. Uganda claimed an early wicket through Kevin Amuge, but the Dutch openers, led by the outstanding Sterre Kalis and Robine Rijke, launched a blistering counterattack. By the end of the Powerplay, the Dutch were cruising at 50 for 2, effectively breaking the back of the chase.

Even with pockets of disciplined bowling, the Pearls could not recover from wayward lines and the 12 extras they conceded. Netherlands sealed the chase inside 15 overs, winning by six wickets and confirming Uganda’s sixth-place finish with two wins from seven matches.

Skipper unfazed

Despite the defeat, skipper Mbabazi reserved praise for her young side.

‘I think the girls came to the party,’ she said. ‘Proscovia (Alako) and Nampiina showed real intent and belief. We just need to learn how to handle pressure moments better and bounce back quickly.’

Uganda’s 111/6 was their second highest total of the tournament – a sign of growth in their batting temperament – but their bowling inconsistencies and the inability to seize key moments against top emerging nations remain areas demanding urgent attention.

Still, the Pearls leave Thailand better informed than they arrived.

‘We have a clear picture now of where we want to go,’ Muhumuza added. ‘We must grow the pool, improve skillsets, and produce bowlers who can survive at this level.’

As Uganda returned home for a brief festive break before January’s revamped programme, there is a sense that while sixth place was not the desired finish, this campaign revealed tactical truths that the group must now convert into long-term gains.

ICC Emerging Nations Trophy 2025

Game By Game Results – Uganda

Scotland 115/9 | Uganda 100/6

Scotland won by 15 runs

Namibia 83/8 | Uganda 71/7

Namibia won by 12 runs

Uganda 117/4 | PNG 113/7

Uganda won by 4 runs

Uganda 75/8 | UAE 76/0

UAE won by 10 wickets

Uganda 55/10 | Thailand 58/2

Thailand won by 8 wickets

Tanzania 54/10 | Uganda 55/3

Uganda won by 7 wickets

Uganda 111/6 | Netherlands 112/4

Netherlands won by 6 wickets

ICC Emerging Nations Trophy 2025 – Points Table

M W L N/R Pts NRR

1. Thailand 7 5 2 0 10 1.362

2. UAE 7 5 2 0 10 1.278

3. Netherlands 7 5 2 0 10 0.987

4. Scotland 7 5 2 0 10 0.359

5. PNG 7 4 3 0 8 0.026

6. Uganda 7 2 5 0 4 -1.040

7. Namibia 7 1 6 0 2 -1.345

8. Tanzania 7 1 6 0 2 -1.649

TALKING POINT

Brave Batters – Uganda’s best batting display came in the final match, a late signal of what might have been possible had they shown similar aggression earlier in the tournament.

Uganda at ICC Emerging Trophy:

Played 7, Won 2 (PNG and Tanzania), Lost 5 (Scotland, Namibia, UAE, Thailand and Netherlands).